The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1887-02-03

in ssl. and wsier over The chimney. The
old seuilemsn. Who lived alone. vs
obliged 10 travel on slippery ground 70
the nesres, nsishbos Tor help. The VII
layers were .asily Indignant aud Tor pun
ishipg lhe mlscreant.. but no clue 10 them
could he found.
Will was away from home that night,
aud suspicion rested On him - one Of The
party. until be could bsas il 90 longer,
and decided TO 70 away.
I, seemed but yesterday their parting
10 the old trysiing .plsos.
Will had slipped the tiny gold hand she
wore upon her finger N seemed but .
thread Of gold nov askisg her to wear
it until be came back.
For. said be, I'll never come back till !
can offer you : name and ) home. Some
how, the devil has hsd possession Of me
lately. bat bad - I am, ! would scorn 70
do whAt they accuse me of-torture poor
old msn. While you believe and trust me.
there are plenty Who do not. And with .
las. Goodbye. my Beth. he was gone.
When the first letter came addressed to
Miss Beth Allen In Wills round, boyish
hand, Mr.. Allen frowned and his wife
scolded; but when she was for stopping
the correspondece at once, he said;
There. there. motherl let the girl write
to him ifshe wants to; she won't do him
any harm, and / can trust her for true
Allen not to go far out OF the way.
so the matter dropped, aud for five
years Lizsbeths letters we're received
without comment; then they ceased sud
denly and unexpectedly. For months
'Lizabeth watched the mails with anxious
face. Mrs Allen shook her head with an
81 told you he didn't amount to anything,' >
whenever there WAS no one but her hus-
band to hear, and Mr.. Allen visited in 81
lence.
Time does much toward healing sucb
wounds. and five years had made it seem
more like IN unpleasant dream than re-
ality, when the news OF Wills return came,
awakening memories Of other days.
For once Mr.. Allen was weather. wise.
The snow had fallen through the night,
covering the earth as with mantle; the
feathery fakes continued to come lazily
down until just before twelve o'clock, then
there was rift in the western sky, and
when the old yellow sleigh stood at the
door the sun shone as bright as ever
Be careful. father. and don't let Liza
beth catch cold waiting for you, was Mrs
Aliens parting injunction as she came to
the door to see them of.
There was just wind enough to lift the
newly fallen snow and send it In little
whirls to lie sparkling aud glistening q
few Yards from where it had fallen. Rob
in was in excellent spirits, aud MIR. Allen
declared as he drew up in front of the
village post office that tho distance never
seemed so short
Draw the robe CLOSE aronnd you. darter,
and dom get tired Of waiting. I've got
TO bargain With Sam Chase about that
stove, but III be quick as ] can; then we'll
drive down to Burnham's and get that
book you mentioned. With this and an
extra phil to Robins blanket, Mr. Allen
was gone.
Father was right, the old sleigh is more
comfortable than the new one, Lizabeth
thought, as she nestled down in one cor
ner, drawing the robe moro closely Ia
keep out the wind that tried TO find en
trance at all corners. While tucking the
robe between the cushion and the side oi
the sleigh her fingers touched something
smooth like paper:
One Of fathers old receipts, he's so care
less, she thought with fond smile, as she
drew it forth for inspection. But glance
was needed to show her mistake.
1t was letter yellow with age, unopen
ed aud addressed to herslf in the hand
writing she knew 80 we'll She could
scarcely trust her eyes. but there was the
familiar post mark = Sn Francisco and
she was Just leaning forward to read the
date, when gust Of wind, taking it from
her hands, deposited 1t at the feet OF
gentleman who was passing.
She dared not look mp. but in mo
ment he was handing it toward her, say
ing
Is this your property, Miss Allen?
Al the sound ot the voice, 50 LITTLE
changed that she would know 1t anywhere
the hot blood rushed 10 her face. and eh'
had scarcely courage TO reply:
think so. never saw it before:
She felt the keen eyes search her face
and there was touch OF scorn In th
question that followed
Ii is an old letter addressed 10 you. AM
yon never saw IL betore2
She felt ss IL she must vindicate herself
and her answer came full and clear.
Just ionnd it 10 the cid sleigh / d
not know how long !. has lain there.
He glanced again at the letter; it mus
be the same one; be knew the date SO vel
The tone was almost eager now.
j You never sss it before. Beth? You d.
not receive il, my last letter. and leave
unanswered?
Could yon doubt me. Will? She vi
looking him 10 the face nov.
/ Imight have known better, but 20
we're always so punctual. and when ] re
ceived 90 answer to ny last letter ] VI
too proud to write sn ask and explains
tion. thought you had given me uI
like everyone else H. b.. Can you 10
give me for my want OF con6dences b'
be needed not words for answer.